Death penalty could be sought for man police say aided in grandparents' killing

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A district attorney says he'll request the death penalty for a man accused of murdering his girlfriend's grandparents.

The prosecutor says a plea deal is on the table for now.

Johnny Rider’s girlfriend is also accused in the murders but legally she's too young to face the death penalty.

District Attorney Danny Porter says the final decision will be made in the next month or so.

“This was a first step in a plot between them to kill both of their families,” Porter said.

Porter says Rider and Cassandra Bjorge are equally as culpable in the killings of Wendy and Randall Bjorge last spring.

“We do have to consider the age of the defendant and the fact that there is really not a prior criminal record on his part. But on the other hand, defendants hit a home run on the first case,” he explained.

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Gwinnett police say Cassandra confessed she and Rider used a tire iron, hammer, baseball bat and butcher knives to beat and slice the throats of the grandparents, then caulked two interior doors and the homes front door to try and seal the smell of death inside. Police say the teens stayed in the home smoking pot for days as her grandparents bodies laid upstairs.  All factors, Porter says, could be used for a death penalty case.

"Not in a million years did I think something like would ever happen," said Amanda Sterling, Cassandra’s mother.

Officials delayed the two defendants court appearances on Thursday. Porter says defense attorneys are discussing plea deal with both clients and he will wait until after those offers expire before filing the death penalty notice.

“Right now the plan of action is we would file a notice of intent,” Porter said.

Rider's attorney, Leanne Chancey told Channel 2's Tony Thomas she and Rider are considering the plea offer and are hopefully the state will reconsider its intention of the death penalty.

Cox Media Group